A new World Health Organization (WHO) policy brief outlines a transformative approach to public health intelligence that connects data across a range of systems, sectors and disciplines. By creating a single, actionable picture of health threats based on multiple sources, such an approach aims to fill critical data gaps and aid countries in decision-making.
WHO Member States across the Western Pacific endorsed the policy brief, Multi-source Surveillance to Support Public Health Action and Decision-making, at the WHO-led Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework (APSHAF) Stakeholders Meeting held on 11 June 2026 in Malaysia.
The policy brief aims to address gaps in how public health intelligence is routinely generated and used for decision-making - both before and during health emergencies. While countries already collect data from multiple surveillance systems, these are often used in isolation rather than systematically brought together for joint analysis and risk assessment. Donor-funded surveillance programmes often target single diseases, such as malaria, HIV and polio, but doing so risks missing “the bigger picture”.
The policy brief makes it clear that investing in multi-source surveillance is no longer optional, but essential, in an interconnected world.
Moving beyond fragmented data
Traditional public health surveillance relies heavily on health-care facility visits and laboratory reports. While vital, the data these yield capture only a fraction of reality and often detect threats only after diseases have already spread.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the value of systematically combining diverse data and information streams to generate a more accurate, real-time understanding of evolving public health threats and associated risks, enabling decision-makers to act with greater certainty and precision.
Moreover, insights from Joint External Evaluations (JEEs) of International Health Regulations (2005) capacities in the Western Pacific Region have consistently highlighted gaps in timely information exchange across disciplines, sectors and administrative levels.
Multi-source surveillance shifts from reactive, siloed data collection to an emphasis on proactive, multisectoral decision-making. This approach cross-references traditional health data with non-traditional sources, such as animal health logs, environmental tracking, climate data and community behavioural trends.
“The COVID-19 pandemic and other health emergencies have clearly shown us the need for pooling public health data for stronger public health intelligence,” observed Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, reiterating the multiplier effect of this approach. “Multi-source surveillance maximizes the value of existing investments in surveillance by dissolving traditional silos, creating a unified, multi-purpose infrastructure that protects regional populations against current and future health risks.”
Reaffirming the value of this approach, Dr Pilly Mapira, Executive Manager at the National Department of Health in Papua New Guinea, shared: “In a nation as geographically vast and diverse as Papua New Guinea, relying on a single data source leaves dangerous blind spots. Multi-source surveillance bridges the gap between isolated provinces and central health authorities, allowing us to connect the dots in real time and protect our most vulnerable communities before outbreaks escalate.”
By triangulating diverse inputs, multi-source surveillance delivers three distinct advantages:
- Accurate decision-making: Routine collation, analysis and joint risk assessment across diverse information sources increases confidence in the accuracy of the data, as well as the timeliness and relevance of signals - shifting surveillance from data collection to decision support.
- Peacetime readiness: Operating multi-source surveillance continuously during non-crisis periods keeps surveillance systems functional, coordinated and practised, so they can be rapidly scaled and adapted during public health events.
- All-hazards resilience: This approach is not limited to infectious diseases - it also builds early-warning capacity for climate-sensitive hazards, environmental toxins and unexpected biological threats.
Institutionalizing multi-source surveillance
Through the policy brief, WHO advocates for institutionalizing evidence-informed decision-making and promoting timely, coordinated public health action. Scaling up multi-source surveillance would enable early detection and timely emergency response - safeguarding regional health security.
WHO will advance uptake of this approach to surveillance by tracking Member States’ data contributions and reviewing national surveillance systems to identify critical data gaps. Member States have a concrete road map to turn diverse data into rapid, life-saving public health action.
Through its support, WHO is enabling a regionwide early-warning network - transforming shared vulnerabilities into a collective, data-driven shield against future pandemics and other public health threats.